Chronicle Covers: When Willie Mays was denied housing because he was black

The Chronicle’s front page from Nov. 14, 1957, covers Giants star Willie Mays’ denial of housing in San Francisco due to his race.

Photo: The Chronicle 1957

This was the ugly side of San Francisco.

The Chronicle’s front page from Nov. 14, 1957, covers a racist refusal to sell Giants star Willie Mays and his wife a home in the city.

“Mays, the spectacular center fielder of San Francisco’s newly acquired Giants, ran into the color barrier here yesterday. He and his wife were turned down in their attempt to buy a home — because they are Negroes,” the story read, using the accepted language at the time.

This level of racism would have been expected in other cities in other states in the 1950s, but this was San Francisco. This was front-page news.

“After looking at several houses, Mays offered $37,500 for a new home (on) Miraloma Drive, adjoining St. Francis Wood,” the story read. “It was the price the owner was asking. But after several days of waiting, Mays was turned down.

“The house is still for sale, at the same price, but not to Mays.”

It’s heartening today to know how far the city has come, but it’s remarkable that this happened less than 60 years ago to one of San Francisco’s greatest heroes.

Now that’s a big story: “Actress Marilyn Monroe cut her thumb to the bone last night while carving a roast,” read a completely and utterly serious mini-story near the bottom of the front page. Maybe the next day’s cover had the hot lead on Jayne Mansfield’s blistering headache.

See more front pages: Go to SFChronicle.com/covers to search a database of hundreds of Chronicle Covers articles that showcase the newspaper’s history.